CIA: Saddam tape most likely authentic

WASHINGTON  The CIA has determined the lastest audio message
purportedly from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, in which he marks
the deaths of his sons, is most likely authentic, a CIA official
said Wednesday.

The CIA's technical analysis of the message matched very closely
with other recordings of Saddam's voice, the official said,
speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The voice on the message said it was made in July 2003, but the
exact date was not clear. CIA officials aren't certain of the exact
date the recording was made, but the references to the July 22
deaths of Saddam's sons Odai and Qusai mean it was almost certainly
made during the last week.

It was aired Tuesday on the Al-Arabiya satellite channel, which
broadcasts across the Middle East and in Iraq.

For all the uncertainty during the war, American officials now
hold little doubt that Saddam is alive and in Iraq, perhaps moving
every few days. The audio messages making references to recent
events are evidence of his survival.

In the latest, nine-minute, audiotape, Saddam said he was glad
his sons were killed because such a death "is the hope of every
fighter."

"Even if Saddam Hussein has 100 sons other than Odai and Qusai,
Saddam Hussein would offer them the same path," said the voice
identified as Saddam. "That is the hope of every fighter for God's
sake, as another group of noble souls of the martyrs has ascended
to their creator."

Before the Tuesday broadcast, the last audio recording
attributed to Saddam was aired by Al-Arabiya on July 23. That tape
carried no mention of the sons, and the speaker claimed to have
made it July 20. U.S. intelligence officials said it probably was
authentic.

Another recording said to have been by Saddam purportedly was
made on July 14. U.S. intelligence officials said that recording
probably was authentic, too.